Anāl people

The Anāl tribe is one of the oldest indigenous tribes in the state of Manipur in Northeast India.^[13] Chakpikarong is a land of the Anāl since the time the earliest settlers occupied the hill country of Manipur. In India, members of the tribe are found in the state of Manipur, mainly in Chandel district and a few villages in Churachandpur district and Thoubal district. There are a hundred and forty-one villages in Chandel district. Neighbouring districts, like the Churachanpur district, has three Anāl villages, namely Kolen, Dutejol and Warkhu, and the Thoubal district has one Anāl village - Moirankhom. Under the Myanmar administrative unit, there are three Anāl villages - namely: Ngakala, Napaleen and Haika. According to the census report of 2001, the total Anāl population in India is 21,242. The Anāl population in Myanmar is not known, because many of them have assimilated into the majority populations. Originally, the Anāl were animistic, but are now largely Christian.^[14] However, Christianity became a religion for the Anāl only after India's independence. Today, more than 95% of Anāl are Christians and are concentrated in the Chandel of Manipur.^[15] One of the positive impacts of Christianity among the Anāl is education.^{[citation needed]}

The Anāl are amongst the indigenous of Manipur. The history of Moirang (a Meitei kingdom) and the Anāl traditional songs and tales suggests an existence in the presence of inhabited areas since the beginning of the 1st century AD, or much earlier.^[13]

In the words of Horam,^[16] in ‘Naga Polity, "it can be said that the Nagas at first lived in stone caves or in the womb of the earth".^[17] YL. Roland Shemmi also writes,^{[citation needed]} "Angami, Lotha, Rengam belief that they came out from the earth hole. Tangkhul Naga came out from earth hole at Hundung. Ao tribe believes that they were the first to come out of underground cave". Thus, cave theory as the origin story of their people is common among many tribes, and all the Naga tribes shared this theory. Anāl legend states that the Anāl, together with the other Pakan tribes, originated in Mongolia.^{[citation needed]} They lived in a cave guarded by a man-eating tiger. Two Anāl members, Hanshu and Hantha, killed the tiger with the help of birds from the sky. After the tiger's death, the tribes left the cave, travelling through China, Tibet, and numerous other areas before settling in Manipur.^{[18]: 1515–6} The Anāl are divided into two groups based on who they believe they are descended from - either Hanshu or Hantha.^{[19]: 119–120}

The origin of the name Anāl is not clear. One hypothesis is that it is derived from the surname of R.D. Angnal. Another theory is that the name was taken from the Meitei word anan, which means "clean," suggesting that the group had a reputation for cleanliness. The Anāl generally refer to themselves as the Pakan.^[18]: 1515

The political relationship between the Nagas and the Kukis since the eve of British colonialism to the post-British era has always been opposed to one another. The Anāl's oral history says they were always at war with the Kukis. In Chakpikarong (The Anāls Naga habitation), Stone Age culture age has been explored and found the existence of this culture.^[20] This shows that the Anāl Naga tribe is one of the oldest tribes of Manipur state. The oral history of the Anāl says that the Anāl were oppressed by the Kukis during the Kuki rebellion of 1917.^[20]

The Anāl live in the Manipur region of Northeast India, which is surrounded by the Imphal valley to the north, Churachandpur districtto the west, the Chin Hills to the south and Kabaw valley to the east. The area is very hilly, with thick jungles and many wild animals. According to the 2001 census, there are approximately 21,242 Anāl in Manipur.^{[21][19]: 120} In 1981 they were living in 45 villages.^[22][23]

According to 2001 Census India, the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in Manipur recorded a 65.9% literacy rate, which is above the national average for STs (47.1%). Of the thirteen major STs, the Anāl recorded the fourth highest literacy rate of 73.9%, while Hmar recorded the highest literacy of 79.8%, followed by Paite (79%), Any Mizo tribes (74%) and Tangkhul (72.7%).^[8]

In social practices, many of them are unique. One conspicuous trait is the division of tribe's clans into two distinct groups, viz., 'Mosum' and 'Murchal'. As intra-marriage can occur between the members of these two groups, ostracism of the couple in question can occur. The economy of the Anāl is based primarily on crude agriculture.^[6]

The Anāls' political system, since time immemorial, is democratic in nature and practice. This could be evinced by the election of village authority: the chief and his associates are elected by either voice vote or raise hand.^[6][24]

The Anāl traditionally live in windowless wooden houses with thatched roofs, erected above ground level. The houses have two doors of different sizes and two rooms, a bedroom and a storeroom (Anal: zuhmun).^[18]: 1516

Anāl men traditionally wear a lungi (similar to a dhoti) and a simple shirt, called a pakan lungum; they also strap on a basket (Anal: vopum) for carrying dao and other tools.^{[18]: 1516–7} Women wear undergarments, a skirt, blouse, and shawl, which cover them from their heads to their knees; they also carry a basket(Anal:Bowl).^{[18]: 1516–7} Both sexes can wear jewellery, including rings, necklaces, and bracelets, as well as special long earrings made from insect wings.^[18]: 1517 Traditionally clothing is made by the women.^[18]: 1517

Anāl are traditionally monogamous, although cases of polygyny have been reported. In order to marry, an Anāl man must pay a bride price (Anal: jol min); after marriage, the wife moves into the husband's home. Divorce (Anal: ithin) is permitted among the Anāl, although a fine may be incurred.^[19]: 122

The Anāl are traditionally polytheistic, believing in a supreme creator named Asapavan, as well as a secondary deity named Wangparel, and numerous other spirits. The largest Anāl rite is called Akam, which is divided into six stages (Judong, Bhuthawsing, Hni, Sapia, Akapidam, and Dathu) and takes six years to complete. During Akam, the Anāl sacrifice mithun and pigs and offer a feast to the community. Some Anāl have converted to Christianity.^[18]: 1517

Traditionally, Anāl men work as carpenters, particularly the manufacture of bamboo furniture, and in basketry. Women traditionally specialized in weaving and spinning cotton, which is grown locally. Due to modernization and competition from factory-produced goods, many traditional methods have been abandoned.^{[18]: 1517–8} They are also farmers, harvesting rice, soybeans, pumpkins, tomatoes, and gourds.^[19]: 125

The Anāl have many traditional musical instruments, including the khuwang (drum), sanamba (three-stringed fiddle), dolkhuwang (gong), pengkhul (trumpet), tilli (flageolet), rasem (a pipe instrument), and diengdong (xylophone^[18]: 1517 They are good dancers and their traditional dances include the kamdam, which is performed by young people for the akam festival, and the ludam, which celebrated victorious headhunting.^[25]

The Anāl are omnivores, eating fish, eggs, beef, pork, and other kinds of meat, as well as fruits and vegetables.^[19]: 121 Although traditionally they do not drink milk, some families now consume it with tea. A form of rice beer, known as zupar or zuhrin, is also drunk.^[19]: 121